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Should You Use a Custom-Built Theme or Standard WordPress Theme for Your Next Website Design

computer for website with a caption about whether or not to choose custom coded or a standard theme

WordPress is a popular content management system that allows website owners to build and manage websites with ease. When building a WordPress website, one of the critical decisions to make is whether to use a custom-built theme or a standard theme like OceanWP. While custom-built themes have their advantages, they also come with some significant drawbacks. In this article, we’ll explore the potential drawbacks of custom-built themes and the benefits of using a standard theme like OceanWP.

Custom-built WordPress Themes: The Drawbacks

One of the most significant drawbacks of custom-built themes is cost. Developing a custom theme requires a team of skilled developers, designers, and project managers, which can be quite expensive. In addition to the initial development cost, custom themes often require ongoing maintenance and updates, which can further increase the cost of ownership.

Another potential issue with custom themes is that they can be challenging to maintain and update over time. WordPress is an ever-evolving platform, with new features, functions, and security patches being released regularly. Keeping your custom theme up-to-date with the latest WordPress updates can be time-consuming and expensive, as you’ll need to rely on your developer to make the necessary changes.

Moreover, custom-built themes may not be as well-tested as standard themes. Standard themes like OceanWP are typically developed by large teams of designers and developers who have spent countless hours testing and refining the theme to ensure it works flawlessly. With a custom theme, you’ll need to rely on your developer to test the theme thoroughly, which can be a challenge, especially if you’re working with a small team or individual.

Custom-built themes also tend to lack the flexibility and versatility of standard themes. Standard themes like OceanWP come with built-in update mechanisms that make it easy to keep your site up-to-date with the latest WordPress features and security patches. 

Benefits of Using a Standard Theme like OceanWP

The benefits of using a standard theme like OceanWP are numerous. Firstly, standard themes are cost-effective compared to custom-built themes. Since standard themes are developed and maintained by a team of developers, the cost of development is shared among users, making it affordable for small business owners and individuals.

Standard themes are also easy to use and maintain. These themes typically come with built-in update mechanisms that make it easy to keep your site up-to-date with the latest WordPress features and security patches. Additionally, standard themes are designed to be flexible and customizable, so you can still make your site look unique without the added complexity of a custom build.

Moreover, standard themes offer a wide range of options and features that may not be available with a custom build. OceanWP, for example, comes with over 150 pre-designed templates, as well as a variety of customization options that make it easy to create a unique and engaging website. Additionally, standard themes often come with built-in SEO optimization and other features that can help improve your site’s search engine rankings and performance.

Another significant advantage of using a standard theme is the availability of support and resources. Since standard themes like OceanWP are widely used, there is an extensive community of users, designers, and developers who can offer support and guidance when needed. This makes it easier to troubleshoot issues and implement new features without having to rely on a single developer or agency.

Conclusion

While custom-built themes can offer some unique advantages, they also come with significant drawbacks, such as high development and maintenance costs, significantly more time to develop, limited flexibility and scalability, and potential maintenance and security challenges. On the other hand, standard themes like OceanWP offer a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and flexible alternative that can help you create a professional-looking, creative website quickly and for a lower cost.